I’ve been talking to some people saying that they don’t want their child to believe in Santa Claus because they think that would be ‘lying’ to them….I think a child needs magic in their life before becoming the cynical adults we all are. I think that magic and mystery adds value to life and helps us all be a little less jaded. What do you all think and why?

This seems like some weird attempt to get attention, like they’re just going for the shock value or something.

I will most definitely tell my kids Santa is real. I love my memories of Christmas as a kid, especially Christmas Eve, leaving cookies for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer, then hanging our stockings and going to bed all excited for the next morning. Still to this day, Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. I really really want my kids to have that. They’ll figure the truth out soon enough (I know I did when I was like 10, and let’s be honest, that’s probably pretty late), but I can at least give them some great memories to look back on before that happens, right? Why take that away just so you can act all superior and say you never “lied” to your kid?

My husband and I were just talking about the role of Santa when we have kids (we are TTC and ‘The Santa Claus’ was on tv).

Our kids will believe in Santa… but Santa only gives each kid one present. The rest of the gifts come from friends and family. That way kids get to believe in Santa without taking all the presents for granted. They will appreciate that most of their presents come from us.

@cb336: I agree! As a kid I loved leaving cookies out for Santa and trying to stay up looking outside at the stars to keep a watch out for Rudolph. My sister and I would spend the night together hoping to hear sleigh bells. I remember when I was 11’ish and knew the truth my little sister came to me asking if I thought he was real, and I said yes. I didn’t want to take the joy and magic away from her.

@rosworms: That’s a really good idea. One nice present from Santa and the rest from friends and family. It’s important that they don’t take things for granted.

I voted #1 but I’m actually indifferent about this… We are asians and we don’t necessarily believe in and do the concept of christmas and santa anyway. I for one don’t even remeber if I believed in santa or not as a child. I don’t really care if my kids do or don’t. I just know that we won’t go out of our way to try to make them believe it or not believe it…

@gramgeek: I was going to put religious difference in part of the poll but I really figured that it would have been more complicated for me to add them all 😀 Helps that I’m working a midnight shift and my mind is kinda gone.

I figured out Santa wasn’t real pretty young and I remember being so angry.

My mother says she regrets doing the “Santa Thing” with my sister and I because we both cried when we found out the truth. Thing was, we weren’t crying that Santa didn’t exist; we were crying because we were upset that everyone had been lying to us for our entire lives. We felt betrayed and embarrassed.

That being said, FH really enjoyed the whole Santa thing, and thought it added to the experience.

He’s definitely in the Santa category. I, based on my experience, want to let my kids pretend Santa is real, but don’t want to lie to them about it.

I was raised knowing Santa wasn’t real and I turned out fine. I knew other kids believed in him, and I never ratted it out for them. But on the other hand, I see all these Christmas traditions about leaving out cookies and food for the reindeer and I think its adorable. So I guess I’m no help.

Santa is one of the most memorable parts of my childhood. I remember waiting up with my sister, baking cookies with my mom, and visiting him at the mall. I loved hearing the “Night Before Christmas” and how excited we were to write our lists for him.

It’s not lying. You are participating in a tradition that is celebrated in many different countries and cultures. We are not religious. In fact, FI is an athesist while I am secular. Santa Claus is the one part of Christmas that we are comfortable participating in because it bridges our religious families (Catholic and Christian) together. So, again, I dont see partcipating in a cultural tradition as lying. As the child grows up and Santa loses his wonder, you can answer the question honestly. But until then, why not?

My hubby and I are in the same boat. We have an 18m old. We decided to do the santa thing but he only brings her stocking and maybe a small gift. Everything else is from Mom and Dad for being a good kid over the last year. I work my A** off and I don’t want some fat guy in a suit taking credit for my gifts 😉 At the same time I don’t want her to lose out on a magic of it either.

I do think when we start a family, we will keep up with Santa being real, building the memories and traditions so many experience this time of year (writing a list, setting out cookies, the awe of finding them gone in the morning). I only fear about how the child will feel when she finds out the truth. I distinctly remember finding out he wasn’t real..maybe I was too young, or maybe it just wasn’t the right setting, but I did not take it well. As a PP said, I felt embarrassed, humiliated, and stupid, like everyone was in on the joke but me.

Hopefully the child will just grow out of it, or come to their own conclusions.

@allyfally: +1 My parents told us there was no Santa, and they were getting us gifts, but not to tell our friends! I don’t feel scarred at all by it. Most of my friends always seemed to be doubtful about his existence anyway… It does seem weird to spend years convincing my kids that it’s true, only to eventually have to tell them that it’s not. I don’t have anything against people that do it though- my DH believed in Santa, but we are not sure what we are going to do with our kids. I agree with ally though, I think the traditions are sweet, and my parents even took us to get a Santa picture when we were younger!